I just discovered this article from the Guitar Tricks News email.

I fully agree that Joe is probably the best living guitarist you never heard of. He blows my mind!!

I dicovered him on Netflix streaming where the video of his Royal Albert Hall performance is available. It's my favorite music video. Django, which he plays as he's walks on the stage, gives me goose bumps! It is such a cool riff and shows what feel and phrasing mean! His studio albums are good (Blues Deluxe and So It's Like That are my favs), but they are no match for his live perfomances.

Listening to him is so inspiring for me. When I watch the live video, I always find myself with my guitar in my hand by the end.

I'm gonna keep an eye out for when he comes to the area to play.

Driving Towards the Daylight didn't really do it for me though. He's still an amazing talent!!

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Rich
Gear: 2000 American Standard Stratocaster, 2011 Faded Les Paul Studio, 2001 Seagull S6 Acoustic, Peavey ValveKing 112 amp, Line 6 2.0 POD

When I 2007 listened accidentally first time to Joe's characteristic phrasing, it was an electrical feeling immediately getting my forearm hairs to stand up — only comparable to "It's may own fault" 1969 from the genius Johnny Winter, "Voodoo child" by Jimi, e.g. "Crossfire" by SRV or the early Eric Clapton in his "Cream" times. None of the friends had heard of him ever. For me it was breath-taking how he supported and accompanied Beth Hart. Later I drove together with my family hundreds of kilometers to a concert, last month we heard him second time. Many musicians can impress, but Joe Bonamassa has really touched all of us deeply, even our teenage-daughter, with his unforgettable rich tone, his fair and humorous behaviour to his band colleagues, his honest musicianship and especially his clear, kind and absolutely unpretentious personality.

He can inspire children to learn music, giving the impression that it is important what you feel yourself (like B.B. King always told us), thus far away from demotivating others via one's brilliant playing. So he also encouraged me to start again my music amateur life. Thank you for showing respect to a great musical artist.

That totally comes across in his concerts. I especially like when he plays with Eric Clapton in the Royal Albert hall concert video. He has a genuine sense of wonder when he says "that had to have been the coolest thing ever!". I also love when pays homage to his influences at the end playing Led Zep solos and stuff as he wonders across the entire stage.

I'm gonna have to watch it again this weekend.

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Rich
Gear: 2000 American Standard Stratocaster, 2011 Faded Les Paul Studio, 2001 Seagull S6 Acoustic, Peavey ValveKing 112 amp, Line 6 2.0 POD

Saw him in concert recently in Freiburg, Germany. Absolutely brilliant event.

Have you seen the dvd from his accoustic concert at vienna opera house ?
(do a search on amazon)
Really worth to check it out !

Chris

I got to see Joe at the Beacon Theater when it was being filmed for the DVD, what an amazing show. Also Great article, so glad to see you guys giving Joe some well deserved attention.

Now if you can only get some of his music featured in your song lessons, then all will be complete in my world. Thanks guys.

saw Joe B in about '95 with Bloodline when he was about 17. We were all older and in bands but he blew our minds. We went and met him for a short while after the show and he was really cool. The chops he had then were amazing. I've been a fan ever since and have one of his CD's in my player right now.